Grade averaging device

ABSTRACT

AN AVERAGING DEVICE INCLUDING A HOUSING ENCLOSING VERTICALLY STACKED ELONGATED HORIZONTAL PENALS INDIVIDUALLY SUPPORTED FOR LONGITUDINAL FOWARD ADVANCEMENT FROM A FIRST STORAGE POSITION THROUGH A SECOND VIEWING POSITION. THE REAR EDGE PORTION OF EACH PANEL AND THE FRONT EDGE PORTION OF THE NEXT LOWER PANEL INCLUDE COACTING STUCTURE FOR FORWARDLY ADVANCING EACH OF THE LOWER PANELS IN TRAIN FASHION BEHIND THE NEXT UPPER PANEL AS THAT UPPER PANEL IS FORWARDLY ADVANCED PAST THE VIEWING POSITION WITH ITS REAR EDGE PORTION VERTICALLY REGISTERED WITH THE FRONT EDGE PORTION THE NEXT LOWER PANEL AND THE PANELS MAY THUS BE SUCCESSIVELY ADVANCED IN TRAIN FASHION THROUGH THE   VIEWING POSITION. THE HOUSING INCLUDES FIRST INDICIA SPACED ALONG THE VIEWING POSITION AND SECOND INDICIA AT THE VIEWING POSITION SPACED ALONG A LINE DISPOSED NORMAL TO THE DIRECTION OF THE ADVANCEMENT OF THE PANELS WITH WHICH THE UPPER VIEWABLE SURFACES OF THE PANELS ARE REGISTRABLE.

Feb. 2, 1971 c. s. MUNDELL 3,559,305

GRADE AVERAGING DEVICE Filed July 25, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig. l

so as 54 Clyde 8. Manda/l 4 INVENTOR.

Hi h .7 7

United States Patent 3,559,305 GRADE AVERAGING DEVICE Clyde S. Mundell,R.D. 1, Box 107, Carmichaels, Pa. 15320 Filed July 23, 1969, Ser. No.843,936 Int. Cl. G091) 23/00 U.S. C]. 3548 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE An averaging device including a housing enclosing verticallystacked elongated horizontal panels individually supported forlongitudinal forward advancement from a first storage position through asecond viewing position. The rear edge portion of each panel and thefront edge portion of the next lower panel include coacting structurefor forwardly advancing each of the lower panels in train fashion behindthe next upper panel as that upper panel is forwardly advanced past theviewing position with its rear edge portion vertically registered withthe front edge portion of the next lower panel and the panels may thusbe successively advanced in train fashion through the viewing position.The housing includes first indicia spaced along the viewing position andsecond indicia at the viewing position spaced along a line disposednormal to the direction of the advancement of the panels with which theupper viewable surfaces of the panels are registrable.

The grade averaging device comprises a relatively compact elongatedhousing in one end of which vertically stacked panels are individuallysupported for forward advancement toward the other end of the housingand the upper wall of the housing includes a viewing opening throughwhich forwardly advanced panels may be viewed. The device is providedwtih X and Y axis indicia which are stationary relative to forwardadvancement of the panels and the panels themselves are provided with Xand Y axis indicia registrable with the stationary indicia.

The stationary indicia supported from the housing and the movableindicia on the cards are registrable with each other and the X indiciaon the panels and extend lengthwise of the latter and are continuous asthe cards are positioned in end-to-end relation. Accordingly, acontinuous reading of the movable X axis indicia on the cards isreadable through the viewing window as the cards are sequentiallyforward advanced into registry with the viewing window.

The main object of this invention is to provide a compact averagingdevice which may be readily utilized to perform various averaging tasksbut which is particularly well adapted to establish an average of thegrades given a plurality of examination or test papers.

Another object of this invention is to provide an averaging device inaccordance with the immediately preceding object and includingstructural components which will not be subject to excessive wear.

A final object of this invention to be specifically enumerated herein isto provide an averaging device which will conform to conventional formsof manufacture, be of simple construction and easy to use so as toprovide a device that will be economically feasible, long lasting andrelatively trouble free.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the averaging device;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of two of the Patented Feb. 2.,1971 longitudinally slidable panels of the averaging device and thevertically shiftable insert upon which the stationary X and Y axisindicia are formed;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal vertical sectional view takensubstantially upon a plane passing through the center of the averagingdevice;

FIG. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken subtsantially upon the planeindicated by the section line 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged top plan view of the viewing windowportion of the averaging device;

FIG. 6 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially uponthe plane indicated by the section line 66 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary top plan view of adjacent ends of two of thepanel members of the averaging device.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings the numeral 10 generallydesignates the averaging device of the instant invention. The device 10includes a housing referred to in general by the reference numeral 12provided with upstanding opposite side walls 14 and 16 interconnected bymeans of top and bottom walls 18 and 20 as well as opposite end walls 22and 23.

The inner surfaces of the side walls 14 and 16 define horizontallongitudinally extending opposing grooves 14' and 16 and a plurality ofgenerally horizontal panel members 24 are slidably supported in thegrooves 14 and 16'.

The center portion of the top wall 18 is cut away as at 26 to form aviewing window and an upstanding partition 28 is slidable longitudinallyof the housing 12 within the latter. One end of an elongated pull rod 30is secured through the partition 28 and the other end portion of thepull rod 30 is slidably received through a bore 34 formed in the remoteend wall 23 and has a backturned eye defining portion 36 thereon.

From FIG. 2 of the drawings, it may be seen that the forward end of eachof the panels 24 includes an upstanding transverse tongue 38 and thatthe rear end of each of the panels 24 includes a depending transversetongue 40. From FIG. 3 of the drawings it may be seen that the dependingtongues 40 are engageable with the upstanding tongues 38 of the panels24 disposed therebelow and it will also be noted from FIG. 3 of thedrawings that the panels 24 are receivable in vertically stackedrelation within the rear end of the housing 12 adjacent the end wall 23with only the forward end portions of the panels 24 registered with therear end of the opening or window 26. In addition, the window is of alength generally equal to the length of the panels 24 and the front endof the housing 12 forward of the window 26 is also of a length generallyequal to the panels 24.

A verticaly shiftable generally U-shaped insert referred to in generalby the reference numeral 44 is provided and includes front and rearwalls 46 and 48 interconnected by means of an upstanding side wall 50.The upper marginal edge portion of the side wall 50 includes anoutturned flange 52 defining a lifting handle and the lower marginaledge portion of the end wall 46 includes a laterally outwardlydownwardly inclined surface 54 viewable from above along which indicia56 are disposed. In addition, the lower marginal edge portion of theside wall 50 includes a similar downwardly and outwardly inclinedsurface 58 along which indicia 60' are spaced.

Each of the panels 24 is provided with a plurality of longitudinallyspaced openings 62 and longitudinally spaced X axis indicia 64 as wellas Y axis indicia 66. The indicia 64 are registrable with the indicia 60and the indicia 66 are registrable with the indicia 56. Further, as willbe observed from FIG. 7 of the drawings, the uppermost panel 24 has itspattern of indicia continued on the next lowest or left hand panel 24illustrated in FIG. 7 of the drawings. Likewise, it is to be understoodthat the panel 24 disposed immediately beneath the left hand panel 3 24of FIG. 7 is provided with X and Y axis indicia forming a rearward orleft hand continuation of the indicia 64 and 66 formed on the left handpanel 24 in FIG. 7.

The indicia 60 comprise the numbers 50 through 100 formed along thesurface 58 and the indicia 56 comprise the numbers 3-l2 formed along thesurface 54, see FIG. 5. Further, there are fifty oepnings 62 in each ofthe panels 24. From FIG. 3 of the drawings it may be seen that there aretwelve panels 24 corresponding to the indicia 56 and it may be seen fromFIGS. 1, 3 and 6 of the drawings that the insert 44 is supported uponthe uppermost panel 24 registered with the opening 26. The insert 44drops down to the next lowest panel 24 as each panel 24 is forwardlyadvanced into the forward end of the housing 12 forward of the opening26. In this manner, the indicia 56 and 60 are maintained in closeproximity with the X axis and Y axis indicia 64 and 66 formed on thepanel 24 registered with the window 26.

When a plurality of grades are to be averaged, the rod 30 is pulled tothe left as viewed in FIG. 3 of the drawings after the insert 44 hasbeen lifted out of the opening 26 so as to position all of the panels 24in vertically stacked relation in the left hand end of the housing 12with only the forward ends of the panels 24 registered with the opening26. Then, the insert 44 is placed Within the opening 26.

Before the insert 44 is replaced within the opening or window 26, theuppermost panel 24 is slid forward into full registry with the window26. Then, after the insert 44 has been placed in position, the averagingdevice 10 is ready to be utilized in averaging up to twelve grades.

In entering the first grade to be averaged, a stylus or similarimplement is inserted in the opening 62 registered with that indicia 60corresponding to the grade. Then, the stylus is moved to the right untilit engages the lower edge of the surface 54. Then, the next grade to beentered is entered by placing the stylus in the opening 62 registeredwith the corresponding indicia 60 and the stylus is again moved to theright into contact with the lower edge of the surface 54. Each time thepanel 24 with which the stylus is engaged is shifted to the right, thedownwardly projecting transverse tongue 40 on the rear end of that panelis engaged with the upstanding transverse tongue 38 on the panel 24disposed immediately therebeneath so as to also shift the panel 24immediately beneath the uppermost panel 24 to the right. After all ofthe grades have been entered, the number of grades entered is noted andthe Y axis indicia 66 registered with the indicia 56 corresponding tothe number of grades entered is the average of the grades entered.

Of course, the device 10 may be constructed so as to be provided withmany additional panels 24 whereby a greater number of grades may beaveraged. Also, inasmuch as the average grades of test papers orexaminations 1s usually higher than fifty, the length of the panels 24and the number of the openings 62 as well as the length of the insert44, the window 26 and the housing 12 may be reduced.

By individually mounting the panels 24 for longitudinal shifting of thehousing 12, there is no tendency of movement of an upper panel 24 tomove a lower panel 24 except by engagement of one of the tongues 40 withthe next lowest tongue 38. Also, it will be readily appreciated thatquantities other than test paper grades may be averaged by utilizing thedevice 10 and further that if a greater number of panels 24 is utilized,the width of the housing 12 mustv necessarily be an increase so as toaccommodate an end wall such as end wall 46 with a greater number ofindicia 56 thereon.

The device 10 may be readily constructed of inexpensive materials and atlow manufacturing costs. Further, the components of the device 10 aresuch that the latter may be used many, many times without a malfunctionoccurring.

The foregoing is considered as il ustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. An averaging device including a support structure defining first,second and third areas thereof, a plurality of vertically stacked panelsindividually supported in said first area and for independent movementthrough said second area to said third area, each pair of adjacentpanels, when the upper panel is in predetermined advanced positionrelative to the next lower panel, including coacting means defining aone-way connection therebetween for shifting the next lower panel fromsaid first area to said second area in response to movement of the panelthereabove from said second area to said third area, each pair ofadjacent panels including indicia thereon reading continuously along thepath of movement of said panels between said second and third areas whensaid upper panel of a pair of adjacent panels is in said predeterminedadvanced position relative to the next lower panel, said supportstructure including indicia in said second area registrable with theindicia on said panels as the latter are positioned in said second area,the indicia on both said panels and support structure including X arisindicia extending along said path and Y axis indicia extendingtransversely of said path.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said support structure includes ahousing in which said panels are contained during their movement betweensaid first and third areas, said panels and housing being generallyhorizontally disposed and said housing being elongated including a topwall beneath which said panels are disposed, said path extending betweenthe opposite ends of said housing and said second area being defined bya viewing window formed in said top wall generally centrallyintermediate its opposite ends.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said support structure includes aninsert supported from said housing for vertical shifting through saidwindow and being supported from beneath by the panel portions registeredwith said window, said indicia on said support structure being definedon said insert.

4. The combination of claim 1 including means movably supported fromsaid support structure actuatable to engage and urge all of the panelsfrom said third area to said first area.

'5'. The combination of claim 1 wherein said coacting means includesdepending tabs carried by the portions of said panels remote from saidthird area and upstanding tabs carried by the portions of said panelsremote from said first area, the depending tab of the upper panel ofadjacent panels being engageable with the upstanding tab on the paneltherebelow.

'6. The combination of claim 1 wherein said support structure includes ahousing in which said panels are contained during their movement betweensaid first and third areas, said panels and housing being generallyhorizontally disposed and said housing being elongated including a topwall beneath which said panels are disposed, said path extending betweenthe opposite ends of said housing and said second area being defined bya viewing window formed in said top wall generally centrallyintermediate its opposite ends, wherein said housing includes upstandingopposite side Walls extending longitudinaly thereof, said side wallsincluding means defining inwardly opening longitudinally extending andvertically spaced grooves extending along their inner surfaces, saidpanels each including a pair of opposite side longitudinal marginal edgeportions slidingly supported from a corresponding pair of said grooves.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said support structure includes aninsert supported from said housing for vertical shifting through saidwindow and being supported from beneath by the panel portions registeredwith said window, said indicia on said support structure being definedon said insert.

8. The combination of claim 7 including means movably supported fromsaid support structure actuatable to engage and urge all of the panelsfrom said third area to said first area.

9. The combination of claim 8 wherein said coacting means includesdepending tabs carried by the portions of said panels remote from saidthird area and upstanding tabs carried by the portions of said panelsremote from said first area, the depending tab of the upper panel ofadjacent panels being engageable With the upstanding tab on the paneltherebelow.

References Cited 10 JEROME SCHNALL, Primary Examiner J. H. WOLFF,Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

